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A. D. GROVER. COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 050.17. m4.

Patented July 22, 1919.

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6 I 4 4 J/Zber-Z 17. Qrouen Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

A. D. GROVER.

COIN CONTROLLED-VENDING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED DEC. 11. 1914.

Patented J uly 22, 1 919.

2 SHEETS 'SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. \vAslnNfi'lrimI n. c.

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ALBERT D. enovnn. or NEW YORK, iv. Y., nssre von, BY ivrnsnnnssrelvivimvrs, T0

AUTOSALES CORPORATION, A conronnrron on NEW YORK.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 22, 1919.

Application filed December 17, 1314. Serial Nj'o. 877,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, ALBERT D. GnovnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Vending-Mm chines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates; generally to coincontrollcd vendingmachines and has for its object the provision of a machine particu larlyadapted for use in theaters or like places where the Size of the machine must essentially be limited so as not to constitute an obstruction or hindrance.

The machineof my invention comprises several features of novelty which combine to form a mechanism of small dimensions, simplicity of construction, certainty of operation, and capable of rejecting spurious checks or disks without danger of becoming clogged ordisarranged.

One feature of my invention resides in' a new form of delivery mechanism for the goods or articles in the machine, which is thereby especially adapted to vend large packages as distinguished from thesocalled penny theater machines which "sell small pieces of penny goods. In the broad aspect of my inventionthis new delivery feature comprises a pluralityof movable members mounted independently of each other and each adapted, when in normal position, to support a piece of goods. These movable or adjustable supporting members are controlled by a common actuating device which is adapted to move the supporting members, one at a time, into releasing position. In the mechanical embodiment of my invention new best known to me, these goods supporting. members are in the form of tiltable shelves arranged one above the other within the goods chamberof the casing, and having pin-and-slot connections with a vertically slid'able barwhich has a step-by-step movement. At each operative movement, this bar trips one of the shelves, beginning with the lowermost into releasing position, so that the packages drop into a position for removal by thepa'trons.

Another feature characterizing my invention is .the coin-controlled mechanism for the delivery device Winch actuates the goods supporting members. This mechanism is very simple 1n construction and operation,

. consisting merely of a hand-operated memher which carries an ad ustable connecting element. Normally this element is in an inoperative position, but is adapted. to be moved intoengagement with the trip device by the deposited coin, whereby the handoperated member becomes operatively com nected with the trip device to cause delivery ofthe goods. In the preferred form of my invention I provide means, for holding the connecting elementin one or the other of its positions during the operation of the hand member. In this way I positively prevent accidentalmovement of the connecting element from inoperative to operative position, or vice versa. i 1

A preferred construction embodying the several features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- V igure 1. isa front elevation with the front wall or doorpa'rtially broken away to show the interior ofthe casing;

Fig. 2. is a sideelevationof Fig. 1 look ing from left to right; I Fig. 3. 's a side elevation of Fig. 1 looking from right to left with a part of the casing broken away to show the actuating barfor the delivery shelves;

Fig. 4. is a top .plan view with the casing partly broken away to show the combined washer-tester and slot-closer;

Fig. 5. is a transverse cross section on line 55 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. y

f Fig. 6. is a front view of the interior of the machine with thedelivery shelves remo 1 Fig. is a longitudinal cross section approximately on line 77 of Fig. '6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

which is in thelform of a plate preferably provided wit-l1 narrow peripheral flanges which overlap the edges of the shell 1 to form a igh l-p of closure. In the p rticular form of machine shown in the drawings, I have shown the plate 2 as the front of the machine, and the main wall of the shell 1 as the rear plate of the machine. It is obvious, however, that the plate 2 may constitute the rear of the casing and the main wall of the shell 1 constitute the front plate of the casing. The operation of the machine is precisely the same in either case. I will, therefore, have itunderstood that whenever I use the term rear and front as applied to the separable sections 1 and 2 of the casing, I use the terms merely. 1n a relative sense.

i The two sections which form the closed outer casing are separably connected together in any suitable manner, as by a hinge 3 at the bottom of the casing. The purpose of making the outer shell 1 separable from the plate 2 is to permit access to the interior or the machine for refilling or examination of the inside mechanism. A suitable locking mechanism is provided for locking the two sections of the casing in closed position, so

- as to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the machine.

The rearsection or outer shell 1 is provided with a vertical wall or partition 4 which forms with the plates 2 the magazine or goods department 5. As seen from Fig. 5 the partition 4 has a rearwardly eX- tending flange 6 which lies against the side 7 of the rear section 1, and a forwardly extending L-shaped flange 8 which terminates at the front edge of the side 9 of the rear section 1. By means of these flanges, which are merely. for convenience of construction, the partition 4 is securely mounted in place within the casing. The L-shaped flange 8 constitutes the right side wall of the goods chamber 5 and also forms with the side wall 9 of the casing, the end chamber 10 in which, as will be presently explained, operates the actuating device for the goods supporting shelves.

It will be clear that the partition 4 con stitutes an inner shell having its main wall separated from the main wall of the outer shell 1 by. a narrow space or chamber 4 into which, as will later on be described, en-

ters'the deposited coin for operating the delivery mechanism. I have'not deemed it necessary to show any particular fastening means for the inner shell or partition 4, as that is merely a matter of skill for the mechanic. As shown in the drawings, the inner shell or partition 4 is removable or detachable. This separation of the inner and ber may be provided. These shelves are tiltably connected to the partition 4 in any suitable manner, as by hinge-connections 12 and 13. The hinge-connections 13 include crank arms 14 and 14 which extend into the angular slots 15 and 15', respectively, in the vertical slidable bar 16 mounted for operation within the endchamber 10. The bar 16 constitutes the operating mechanism for the supporting and delivery shelves 11. The bar 16 is guided in its ver tical movement by fixed pins 17 engaging in the vertical slots 18 of the'bar. The pins 17 are carried by the side wall 9 of the rear section 1. Additional guiding means may also be provided in the form of a lug 19 extending forwardly from the bar 16 into guiding contact with the front door 2. Any suitable means may be provided for yieldably maintaining the bar 16 in its normal position and also in its different operated positions. In the drawings I have shown the bar 16 provided with notches 20 in which operates the free end of a spring blade 21 secured to the back of the rear section 1 at 22. The number of notches depends, of course, upon the number of supporting shelves in the machine. As I have shown but two of these shelves, only three notches are required in the bar 16. The lowermost notch 20 is to retain the bar in normal position, the second notch retains the bar in its first actuated position after tripping the first or lower shelf, and the top notch retains the bar in its second actuated position aftertripping the second or upper shelf.

It will be seen from Figs; 3 and 8 that when the shelves 11 and the bar 16 are in normal position, the crank arms 14 and 14 rest at the bottom of their respective slots 15 and 15. If now the bar 16 be pulled down (by mechanism to be presently described) until the spring 21 engages the second or middle notch 20, theangular portion of the slot 15 will rock the crank arm 14 of the lower shelf 11 sufiiciently to throw the shelf from horizontal to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 7. This tripping of the shelf causes the package of goods supported thereby to drop to the. bottom 23 of the chamber 5. The bottom 23 is an angular plate secured to the front door 2 at 24 in any suitablemianner. The lower portion of the magazine 5 may be called the delivery chamber, for when the package of goods rests upon the bottom plate 23, it is in alinement with the delivery opening 24 formed in one sideo-f the casing- The front door 2 is provided with an opening 25 through which the patron can insert a. finger to push the delivery package laterally through the opening 24. l 1

It should'be observed that during the first movement of the actuating bar 16, there 1s no movement of the second or upper shelf 11, because during that interval the crank arm lyengagesonlythe vertical or inoper-'.

ative portion of the slot When the bar 16 is in its first operated-position, the crank arm 1a oflthelower shelf rests an the base a of the-vertical or inoperativeportionof the slot 15, while the crankarm 14E ofthe other shelf is at the base of the angular or operk ative portion of the slot 15'. Consequently 4 second movement; the head "ofthe spring 21 rests in thetop notch 20, while the crank" arms 14 and 14 are at the upper end of their respective slots 15 and 15, It wil1,of

course, be obvious that with a greaternum her of shelves the forms-of -the actuating slots inthe bar 16 would be changed correspon-dingly, so that the shelves would be tripped successively by the successiveoperations ofthe bar 16, Without affecting the position or'jthetrippedshelves. 3 a

"It will be notedthat the pin-and-slot 0011- nectionsbetween the bar 16 and the delivery shelves 11, n-ot'only lock the shelves in normal or supportingposition, but also hold the tripped shelves in their actuated position out of the path ofthesubsequently released 1 packages. In this way there-isno danger of thetripped shelves forming an obstmiction to the free passage of the goods to the de livery chamber. a It will also be observed that *the; connections betweenthe actuating device orbar 16 and the delivery shelves is not broken dur-' ing the tripping vof the shelves. Consequently," when the bar" 16 is restored to normal position after all the shelves have been tripped, theshelves are automatically moved back to normal supportingposition.

This is an important advantage because it enables the person in charge of the machine to restore theactuated parts to normal position by asingle operation-narnely, the shift ing of the bar 16 back to normar position. It will, of course, be understood-that the connections between the goods-supporting shelves and the actuating member 16 may be of other form than the pin-and-slot connection shown by way of illustration. Any form of connection will do, so long asit does not become entirely separated or broken when the goods-supporting members move into releasing position. lli referring to the connections between the shelves 11 and the bar as inseparablefl simply mean that those members do not becomeoperatively separated or disconnected from each other when they'are in" actuated position. I will [.nowdescribefi'the "coin-controlled mechanism for operating the actuatingbar 16'. Tothe back: wall of the-rear-section 1 is pivoted a lever 26 at 27. This leverhas a portion 28 extending out of the right side of the casing through the slot 29 so as to be capable of; openation by hand. Thehandle portion of the lever is bent forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3so as to render it readily accessiblewhen the case is fixed to a support such as the back of a theater chair. Thelever 26 is normally held against the upper end of the slot 29 by a spring 30 which is connected to the level 26 at 31, and to the casing at 32. The lever 26 is provided with a fixed lug 33 arranged in alinement with the coin-chute designated as a whole byS. The hand lever 26 is provided with an upwardly projecting extension 34 carrying a pin or stud 35 on which is pivoted the coincontrolled pawl 36. At its rear end the pawl 36 isprovided with a lug 37 arranged in vertical alinement with the coin-chute S. At its lower end the pawl 36 carries a forwardly extending tooth 38, whichis adapted to engage in the recesses 39 formed at one edge of the bar 16, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Thepawl 36 normally hangs by gravity in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. Astop pin 40 on the lever 26 limits the rearward movement of the pawl; At its lower rearward end the pawl 36 carries a rearwardly projecting pin 41 which isvin alinement with the fixed guide piece42 secured to theback ofthe casing. Thepurpose, of the guide piece 12 is not only to guide the pawl in its inoperative and operative paths ofmoveinent, but also to retain the pawl-in whichever path it begins its movement, as will be presently explained.

a The operation of the coin-controlled mechanism above described .is as follows: Normally the hand lever 26 and the connecting pawl 36 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. In this position of the parts it will be seen that the tooth 38 of the pawl ispout of contact with the bar 16, and that the lug 11 is to the left of the fixed guide piece 42. If the hand lever 26 is pulled down without the previous insertion of a coin, the pawl 36 will move inan inoperativepaththat is to say, the tooth 38 will remain out of engagement with thelower recess 39 in the bar 16. During this movement of the parts the lugel on the pawl 36 will travel to the left of the guide piece 12 and the pawl is thereby held locked against accidental movement toward the actuating bar 16. Vithout the provision of some such locking means astheguide piece 42, it might be' 'possible by shaking or striking the casing a sharp blow, to cause. the gravity pawl 36 tourock forward into engagement with the bar "16, whichwould result in the delivery of a package of goods without the'deposition ofacoin. a

f Let us-now su'pposethat a proper coin has been deposited into the machine through the. coin-entrance slot 43', provided in the top of the casing in alinement with the coin-chute S. The deposited coin descends through the coin-chute S into the position shown in dotted lines C in Fig. 6. It will be'seen that the lug 37 of the swinging pawl 36 is normally in the path of travel of the coin, so that the descending coin strikes the lug 37 and forces the same laterally out of the way. This causes a forward rocking of the pawl 36 sufliciently to bring the tooth 38 into one of the recesses 39 of the bar 16. This coin-actuated position of the pawl 36 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6,'and this actuated position is the operative or connecting position of the pawl, because it thereby establishes an operative connection between the hand lever 26 and the actuat ing bar 16. The fixed lug 33 on the hand lever 26 is so arranged with respect to the lower innervedge 44 of the coin-chute S, that the deposited coin is sustained in position by and between the lug 33 and the edge 44, as clearly seen from Fig. 6. When the hand lever is pulled down after the deposition of a proper coin, the pawl 36 pulls the actuating bar down with it, because of the lock ing engagement between the tooth 38 of the pawl and one of the recesses 39 in the bar 16. The movement of the parts is so limited that when the hand lever 26 strikes the lower end of the slot 29, the bar 16 has been moved through the proper distance to cause tripping of one of the goods supporting shelves 11, as previously explained in detail. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that when the pawl 36 is in coin-actuated position, the lu 41 is thrown to the right of the guide plece 42. Consequently during the subsequent downward movement ofthe pawl 36, the guide piece 42 holds the tooth 38 of the pawl in looking relation with the actuating bar 16. This absolutely prevents accidental disconnection between the bar 16 and the hand lever 26 when the latter is operated after the deposition of a proper coin. When the lever 26 reaches the end of its movement the lug 41 is slightly below the guide piece 42. Upon release of the lever the pawl 36' immediately swings to the rear, so that during the return movement of the pawl 36 the lug 41 travels along the left of the guide piece 42. To facilitate and insure this path of movement of the lug 41 during the return of the hand lever 26, the fixed guide piece 42 is beveled at the lower end as indicated at 42'. It will be seen from this that during the return movement of the parts, the guide piece 42 compels the pawl 36 to travel in an inoperative path, and thus prevents accidental engagement of the tooth 38 with the bar 16, which remains in its actuated position.

The number of recesses 39 in the bar 16 depends, of course, upon the number of supporting shelves 11, there being a recess for each shelf. 'Afterthe first or lowermost recess in the series'comesinto proper posi-.

tion, -as will ;bewell "understood by: ;those skilled in the art- The gravity pawl 36 also acts as coin-tester by testing the deposited coin as to size and weight. If the deposited check or coin is ofllesstha'n the prescribed diameter, the pawl 36 will either not be rocked at all or not sufficiently ,to cause engagement of the tooth38with thebar 16. The position of such a deficient coin is inclicated at C in Fig. 6., Should the deposited coin be of insufiicientweight the same result will occur. as with thecoin G. The weight and position of the pawl 36 are socalculated before-hand, that it takes a ooinof predetermined size and weight to actuate the pawl into connecting position. It should be noted that when, the hand'lever 26 is pulled down after the deposition of a deficient coin or check, the latter is automatically"discharged or rejected out of engagement with the pawl and hand lever before the parts reach the end of their-movement. As soon asthe gap between the edge 44 of the coin-chute and the supporting lug. 33 of the descending hand lever 26 has sufliciently widenechthe 1 coin or check falls to the bottom of the casing. And this automatiedischarge of the coin takes place with a good coin as well.

It will be apparent from theforegoing description J of my new coin-controlled mechanism that I have provided a device ofextreme simplicity of construction and operation, which performs several important functions which in prior constructions necessltated separate or additional devices. Thus,,the coin-controlled mechanism of my invention, consisting of merely two membersa hand operated member and a coin actuated member-not only aflords connection between the hand operated member and the goods delivery mechanism, but it also tests the deposited coin as to size and weight, and furthermore efiectsth'e automatiedischarge of the coin. I

A suitable magnet M is provided to pre vent the operationof the machineby mag netic disks. This magnet is so arranged thatwith the walls 45, 46 and 47 of the coinchute S, it forms a passage-way for the deposited coin. A good coin passes from the position indicated in dotted linesat C in Fig. 6 through the lowerportion of the coinchute formed by the walls 4 8 51 and 49 -52, down to theposition indicated] atG'. A magnetic check, however, is carried along by the magnet under thepoles 55 against the fixed, pin or stop 57', as indicated by the dotted line position C in Fig.6. The stud To prevent the insertion of washers 'or rings into the machine, I vprovideat the coin-entrance slot 43 a'washer-catching device like that described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 781,072,

arms 67 and '68.

,file'd July 25, 1913; Theparts numbered 59 to ca inclusiveoperate. like the correspond ing parts shown in the, aforesaid copending application, and need not, therefore, be here referred to in detail. These various parts are secured to the'underside of the top of thecasing by any suitablemeans, such as the bracket63. a I y To the pin or stud 65 carried by the rear of the casing, is pivoted a lever 66, having The arm 67 terminates near the arm 59 of the. lever 58, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4, but is normally held below the plane of movement of the lever 58 by a spring ,69. The bar 16 carries at its upperenda lateral lug70 in vertical alinement with the arm 68 of the lever 66. The

distance between the lower end of the arm .68 and the lug 70 is suchthat when-the bar .I16reaches .the end of its final step by step movement to trip the last shelf, the lug 70 strikes the arm 68and thereby throws the arm 67 upwardly into the path ofmovement of the arm 59 ofithe lever 58.. This causes the lever 58 to become locked, so that the insertion of coins becomes impossible.

When-the bar 16 is restored to its normal position the spring69 restores the arm 67 into' inoperative. position. By thus estab- .l'ishin'g a controlling connection between the j Any suitable form of lock may be used for locking the two sections of the caslng tobar and the'washer catching device, the latter is made to perform the additional function of a slot closingdevice.

gether. For the sakeof illustration, I have shown in the drawings a lock comprising a On the base plate 74 adapted to engage suitable cooperating parts on the front section of the casing.

While I have herein shown and described i one particular embodiment of my invention,

I wish to be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the details herein set forth, as itis obvious that; in its. broad aspect my invention may be mechanically in otherways than thatshown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letcarried out ters Patentof the United States, is: A

1. In a vendingmachine, a pluralityof movable members mounted independently of each other for normally supporting the articles to be vended, "an actuating device for" movement of the tripped shelves into normal supporting position when said device is resaid members, adjustable but inseparable connections between said" members and said device for operating said members successively by successive actuations of said device to release the articles for delivery, said 0011- nections causing automatic movement of the actuated members into' normal supporting position when said device is restored to normal or initial position, and hand-operated means for actuating said device.

2. In a vending machine, a plurality of pivoted shelves mounted independently of each other for normally supporting the articles to be vended, an 'actuatingdevice for said shelves, operative connections between said shelves and said device for tripping said shelves successively by successive actuations of sald devlceto release the articles for delivery, said oonnections causing automatic stored to normal or initial position, and hand-operated means for actuating said device.

3. In a vending machine, a plurality ofgo 1 movable member's mounted independently of each other fornormally supporting the articles to be vended, a slidable bar for actuating said members, adjustable but inseparable connections between said members and said bar; for operating said members successively by successive operations of said bar to release the' articles -for delivery, said connections causing automatic movement of the actuated members into normal supporting positionwhen said bar is restored tov normal or initial position, and hand-operated means for actuating said bar.

4. In a vending machine, aplurality of movable members mounted independently of a each other for normally supporting the articles to be vended, a vertically slidable bar,

pin-and-slot connections between said members and'said bar for successively operating said. members "by successivefactuations of sald bar, whereby'the articles or packages are released one at atime, and hand-operated means for actuating said .bar.

5. Ina vendmg-mach1ne, plurallty of pivoted shelves mounted independently of each other'for normally supporting the articles to bevended, a vertically slidable bar having pin-and-slot connections with said members, said connections being such that -sa1d shelves are tripped successively by successive actuations of said bar to release the articles for delivery one at a time, and handoperated means for actuating said plate.

6. In a vending machine, a'plurality of I movable members mounted independently of 'device'foro-perating said*members succes a sively by successive actuations of-said device to release the articles for delivery, said con nections causing automatic movement of the actuated members into normal supporting position when said device is restored to normal or initial position, hand-operated means for actuating said device, and yieldable means for retaining said device in its successively operated positions. i

7. In a vending machine, a plurality of movable members mounted independently of each other for normally supporting the articles to be vended, a slidable bar for actuating said members, adjustable but inseparable connections between said members andsaid bar for operating said members successively by successive operations of said bar to release the articles for delivery, said connections causing automatic movementof the actuated members into normal supporting position when said bar is restored to normal or initial position, hand-operated means for actuating said bar, and yieldable means for retaining said bar in its successively operated positions.

8. In a vending machine, a plurality of pivoted shelves mounted independently of each other for normally supporting the articles to be vended, avertically slidable bar having pin-andslot connections with said members, said connectionsbeing such that said shelves are tripped successively by successive actuations of said bar to release the articles for delivery one at a time, hand-operated means for actuating said bar, and

yieldable means forretaining said bar in its successively operated positions. i

9. In a vending machine, a movable device having a stepbystep-movement, a plurality of goods-supporting members operable independently of each other, connections be tween said device and said members for actuating one of said members at each opera tion of said device to release the goods supported by saidmember, saidconnections being adapted to move the actuated members back into supporting position, and hand-operated means to actuate said device. I

10. In 'a vending machine, a slidable ba having a step-by-step movement, a plurality of goods-supporting shelves pivoted independently of each other, connections between said bar and said shelves for tripping one of said shelves at each operation of said bar to releasethe goods supported by said shelf, said connections being adapt-ed to move the actu ated or tripped shelves back into supporting position, and hand-operated means to actuate said bar.

- 11. In a vending machine, a casing having a vertical goods-chamber and a delivery opening leading from said chamber, a plurality' of movable members mounted within said chamber independently of-ea-ch otherto support the articles to be vended, actuating mechanism for said members, connections between said mechanism and said members for operating the latter successively, beginning with the lowermost member, by successive actuations of said mechanism to release the articles for delivery through said chamber to said delivery opening, said connections automatically restoring the actuated mem-.

pendently of each other to supportthearti- I cles to be vended, a common actuating device for said members having a step-by-step movement, connections'between said device and said shelves fortripping the latter successively, beginning with the lowermost shelf, by successive actuations of said device to release the articles for delivery through said chamber to said delivery opening, said connections being adapted to move the tripped shelves into supporting position, and hand-operated means for actuating said device.

13. In a vending machine, a vertical goods chamber, a delivery opening connected therewith, a plurality-of shelves pivoted within said chamber independently of each other to support the articles to be vended, a vertically slidable bar. arranged at one side of said chamber and having a step-by-step movement, connections between said bar and said shelves-for tripping the latter successively, beginning with the lowermost shelf, by successive 'actuations of bar, whereby the articles are releasedoneat a time for delivery through said chamber to said delivery opening, said connections auto matically restoring the actuated shelves into normal supportingposition when said bar is restored to normal or initial position, and

hand-operated means for actuating said bar.

14:. Ina vending machine, a plurality of vertically arranged supports movable inde-w a casing having pendently of each other and adapted to support the goods or articles to be vended, a vertically slidable bar having a step-by-step movement, connections between said bar and said supports for normally holding said supports in supporting position and successively actuating the same to releasing position, said connections automatically restoring the aotuated supports into normal supporting position when said bar is restored to normal or 10 initial position, and hand-operated means for actuating said bar. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of December, 1914:. ALBERT D. GROV ER. Witnesses:

ROBERT BROOKE, M. MEYERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

